Shoe for rheumatism



Feb. 1, 1927.

| M. DE suARE2 SHOEF, FOR RHEUMATISM Filed March 1926 INVENTOR Laura M-de Suarez ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

U N! T D T 'I LAURA. M. DE SUAREZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

SHOE .FQR RHEUMATISM.

Application filed March 3, 1926. Serial No. 91,933.

' mensurate with its utility.

Shoes-of whiehthe principal elements are rubber and like materials; while desirable for protection against dampness; are known to give great discomfort and to some extent defeat their chief purpose by reason of the excessive heat which they produce in the foot of the wearer, and its accompanying perspiration. The novel means for obviating this difficulty presents a very desirable feature of this invention.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the shoe.

Fig. 2 shows afragmentary section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 shows the ventilating strip in the fiat.

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary portion of the strip shown in Figure 3; it being a side elevation to show the button grip member.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of the ventilating mechanism, in which the covering member is slit lengthwise.

The shoe is constructed as follows;

An upper, or body portion 10 which may be of canvas, leather or any suitable material, is secured to the bottom, or sole member 11, which is preferably of rubber; although other materials may be found adequate for the purpose; the essential feature being imperviousness to water, or dampness. The upper portion is provided with elastic gores as shown at 12 which hold it snugly around the ankle of the wearer, but will stretch sufficiently to permit of removal of the shoe from the foot. The ventilating assembly consists of a flexible adjusting strip 13 which may be of metal, celluloid, or like material. This strip is perforated as shown at 14, 15 etc., and when in position, rests upon the surface of the upper body 10, and

has its perforations in line with similar perforations in the said upper body. A sheath member 16 rests upon the top surface of the strip'13 and has its sides extending outward therefrom and stitched to the upper body 10. This sheath member is also perforated as shown at 1'7 and 18. A top 'member19 rests upon the side portions of the sheath member and is stitched together with the said member to the body of the shoe. The member 19 is slightly raised along its central portion and permits of the free passage of air between it and-the sheath member.

It will be seen that with the adjusting strip 13 pushed down to its full extent; the

"apertures, in .the various members will register with each other, and air may pass in or out of the shoe through the said apertures; but should the-said adjusting strip be moved upward by means of the button 20;

the apertures may be partially, or altogether closed, as desired; thus giving any required degree of ventilation.

The cover member 19 provides a channel giving free passage of air to the ventilating apertures, while protecting them from general exposure.

In the modified form shown in Figure 5 of the drawings; the cover member is parted longitudinally as shown at 21, thus providing a form of the invention which may be preferred by some individuals.

While I have shown the preferred embodiments of my invention; I do not wish to limit myself to the exact details of construction as shown; but claim the right to such minor modifications as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent; is as follows:

1. In a shoe of the class described, an upper body of suitable material secured at its lower extremities to moisture proof bottom members, and ventilating means for the said shoe, consisting of a perforated flexible strip slidably mounted on the said upper body and having its perforations in line with, and adapted to cover, or to expose similar perforations in the said upper body at the will of the user. i

2. In a shoe of the class described, an upper body of suitable material secured at its lower extremities to moisture proof bottom members, the said upper body having a series of apertures therein, a flexible strip member with apertures in alignment with apertures of said upper body, a perforated sheath with said strip member slidably mounted therein, a covering over the said sheath forming an air channel between the said sheath member and the said covering, and means to adjust the said flexible strip to cover, or to expose the apertures in the said upper body.

3'. In a shoe of the class described, an upper body of suitable material having elastic side portions, and itself secured to bottom members impervious to moisture, the Wall of said body having apertures therein, an adjusting strip in line with the said apertures, a perforated sheath with said adjusting strip slidably mounted therein, said adjusting strip having perforations adapted to be brought into position to open, or to close the apertures of the said body, and a covering over the said sheath forming an air channel between the said covering and the said sheath, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a shoe of the class described, an upper body of suitable material, having elastic side portions, the said upper body secured at its lower extremities to moisture proof bottom members, the Wall of the said body having apertures therein, a perforated sheath covering, a perforated adjusting strip slidably mounted under said sheath covering, said sheath covering adapted to be moved in such a way as to bring the adjacent per forat-ions of said strip and sheath easing into registration with the apertures of the said upper body, and a slit covering member over said sheath covering and in line with the aforesaid perforations, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a shoe of the class described, an upper body of suitable fabric having elastic side portions, and secured at its lower extremities to moisture proof sole members, the forward wall of the said upper body having apertures therein, a perforated adjusting strip mounted in line with the said apertures, a sheath casing supporting said strip, said casing also being perforated, and a protecting covering over said sheath casing and in line therewith, substantially as shown and described herewith.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

LAURA M. DE sUAREz. 

